(no subject)

Among the gems found in WARHOON 28 is the following:

"Irish literature died in 1835 with Raftery the blind poet, 'my face to the wall, playing music to empty pockets.'"

Now I've only encountered that name twice in my life, so naturally I have to wonder; any relation to our own dear filceolaire?

Willis also gives us a slice of the history of transportation in his native land, including the Atmospheric Railway, which if it had hung on till the invention of plastics might still be with us today, and the successful canal company which apparently decided to expand its operations into the limestone regions of County Clare...